CZ 452 or 455?

That removable barrel system in the 455 is a dumb idea and only beneficial when you live in a country with restricted gun laws and one firearm can be used for several calibers.
 
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I would say a new 455 for the same price.

There are more 452 owners and they will be biased as am I with a 455, but you will hear more praise for the 452. However, at the end of the day it's a rimfire, one being capable of swapping barrels, and I personally would rather have a brand new one. The quality of my 455 Canadian is top notch and I get plenty of compliments at the range. It performs just as well as it looks out of the box.

The 455 lets you swap barrels between 22LR, 22Mag or 17HMR if that tickles your fantasy.

You can't go wrong with either. I have a sudden urge to get a 452 just because.. but I also want a 17HMR barrel for my 455.
 
I always think when they come out with a new model that it's for the company benefit not the purchaser ie - lower production cost
They advertise the so called benefits but don't disclose any downside
Also the price they put on the extra barrel makes it so I would rather have a whole gun for the diff
 
I'd buy the one I could see in person and inspect with my bore scope prior to purchase. 4XX or 4YY isn't that big of a deal.
 
If they are the same price I would always buy new

Sometimes the reason rifles are for sale is because they are shot out or innacurate

I love my 452 but woulodn't buy a used one unless it was slightly used and lady driven
 
452 if it's in good condition.
Never could fathom kibbles & bits for a shooter.
If'n you need to add to the caliber inventory, add n'uther shewter.
 
Whichever one has the better wood. In a blind taste test doubt you could tell which one is outshooting you.


Obviously you don't buy computers/electronics or Cars. Typically always buy the newer model for latest/bestest features.
I always think when they come out with a new model that it's for the company benefit not the purchaser ie - lower production cost
They advertise the so called benefits but don't disclose any downside
Also the price they put on the extra barrel makes it so I would rather have a whole gun for the diff
 
Had a 455fs in .22 lr, sold it after I got my 452fs. Didn't think much of the bbl change feature. The gun shot great, fellow I sold it to does better with it than his 1416 Anschutz. For those so inclined, check the recess in the bolt face for the cartridge base on the 455. To accommodate the larger 22mag base, seems to me that the .22 lr would not be well supported, along with the firing pin having to be able to strike the rim of both sizes. It obviously does work well but just wondering.
 
452 if it's in good condition.
Never could fathom kibbles & bits for a shooter.
If'n you need to add to the caliber inventory, add n'uther shewter.

Agreed.

The barrel swapping, as mentioned, is only a benefit in countries where you're limited to the number of receivers you can register. Every time you swap barrels, you have to re-zero if you're using a scope. Better off just having dedicated rifles for any given calibre.

The new 455 aren't worse rifles, they just have a useless feature. If you pay attention, you should be able to get a 452 in excellent shape for less than a new 455.
 
On RFC, where this question has been endlessly discussed, the consensus that emerges is that both rifles are equally good accuracy-wise. The 455 is generally agreed to have as good if not better fit and finish, although I've not seen a difference in that area. Some folks find the barrel change option appealing, and it is a reasonable cost for a second caliber, especially when getting the 455 American Combo in .22LR and .17HMR. As for scope re-zeroing when changing barrels, it is possible to take note of how many "clicks" are involved when barrels are swapped, and then fine tune after that. For the record, I have a 455 Varmint originally purchased in .17HMR, but since getting a .22LR barrel for it that's all I've used.

If I was making the choice between a gently used 452 and a 455, I would choose the older model. My first CZ was a 455 American that wouldn't shoot, and it took some trouble to get it so that it would. My 452 American shoots like a charm, although I now have it in a PV stock. What ultimately makes me choose in favour of the 452 is that, while the folks on RFC generally agree that the 455 shoots as well as the 452, I hear of more problems with the newer model than with the older. At the same time, it is necessary to keep in mind that CZ rifles are mass produced sporting rifles and promise no better than 2 MOA, although many do much better. To be sure, Savages and Marlins are also mass produced rifles, but the CZ's are clearly in a different league.
 
Also on RFC the guys say if you can find a new/newish 452 get it for no other reason than they ain't makin' anymore of 'em.
 
i asked the same question a couple weeks ago and decided to go with the 452, called my gun guy and he called his distributor and was able to get me a brand new 452.
so there still are some BNIB 452's out there.
but once they are gone...... *poof* -there will be no more.

which to be honest was probably why i went with the 452.
everyone loves them and now that they dont make them anymore it makes them rarer (if thats a good enough reason?)
and when i looked into the differences between the 453-455 the 455 had some manufacturing changes to make them cheaper to produce that a lot of people didnt care for.

at the end of the day its a CZ, so the quality one can expect to be a step up from a regular gun.
 
It is hard to find extra barrel sets for the CZ455 in Canada, so in practice is offers few if any advantages. The 452 actually has an additional bolt locking lug compared to the 455.
 
Potatoes potato pick your poison. They are both decent. The stock trigger and safety is better on the 455. 452s are easy to find new.They keep saying they're discontinued but new ones constantly show up, so no hurry to rush to buy a 452. My 455 varmint is more accurate than my 452.I sold the 452. Handle a few, choose some nice wood and spend the rest on good ammo and a scope. Used firearms, especially a 22 can be a good deal as its virtually impossible to shoot out the barrel on a rimfire. I've bought 3 used rimfires off the EE and all have been great.
 
452 FTW !

I first bought a 455 Varmint, which was a nice rifle but then I found a 452 Varmint and sold the 455.
I recently found an unfired 452 American. I was looking for one for a few months now.
I'm glad I was patient.

From an accuracy point of view, the 452 is not alot better than the 455 but it is overall a slightly better rifle. The 452 is closer to the original BRNO design.

452 Varmint



452 American



 
I'd go with either one, if a used 452 can be found at a good price in good shape there should be nothing wrong with getting it, if not a new 455 is just as good to me.
 
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